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T
U E S D A Y
October 18
The Hope and Inheritance
(Eph. 1:18)
Read
Ephesians 1:18. In your own words, write out what you believe
the Lord is telling us with this single text.
In addition to wisdom and knowledge, Paul prays that the Ephesian
church would comprehend fully “the hope of his calling” and “the
riches of the glory of his inheritance” (vs. 18). In Pa u l ’s writings, c a l l -
i n g underscores both Christian priv i l ege and responsibility. God has
called us to belong to Christ, to be His saints (Rom. 1:6, 7), and to have
“ f e l l owship with his Son” (1 Cor. 1:9, NIV). Because of God’s call,
those of us who were not His people have become His people ( R o m .
9 : 2 4 ) . To those who are called, Christ becomes “the power of God and
the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24, NKJV). B e l i evers are called to eter-
nal life (1 Tim. 6:12). The call makes them free and enables them to
“ s e r ve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13, NIV). The call ensures a har-
monious fellowship, cutting across race and class, as we are “called in
one body” (Col. 3:15, NKJV) and we are charged to lead a life “wo r-
t h y of the calling” (Eph. 4:1, NKJV). This calling expects us “not . . .
to be impure, but to live a holy life” (1 Thess. 4:7, NIV) and a peaceful
life (Col. 3:15)— “ wo r t hy of God who calls you into His own kingdom
and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12, NKJV). This call to the kingdom is “the
u p ward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14, NKJV), which should
m o t i vate us to press forward in the Christian race.
Such is the magnitude of God’s call. It covers the past (forgiveness),
embraces the present (life of fellowship and peace), and awaits the
future for that “blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God
and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13, NKJV). This is the “hope to
which he has called you” (Eph. 1:18, NIV), says Paul, and he prays
that we may be enlightened to see its enormity and loftiness.
To hope, Paul adds “the riches of his glorious inheritance” (vs. 18,
NIV). Inheritance can be understood in two ways. First, believers are
God’s heritage: “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17,
NKJV). Second, inheritance is what saints receive from God as His
heirs. The latter suggests that inheritance is both a present privilege in
that we have the joy of salvation now and a future reward that has been
guaranteed and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13, 14). This final
reward “is . . . kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4, RSV).
The Bible says we are to be “worthy of God who calls you into
His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12, NKJV). As sinners,
we can never be worthy enough to be saved; but because we are
saved, we now want to live “worthy of God.” In this context,
what changes do you need to make in order to exhibit this wor-
thiness in your own life?